Load handling vehicle

ABSTRACT

A load handling vehicle having an operator&#39;s position, a power operated load handler including a boom pivotally mounted at a front end of the vehicle and at least front and rear pairs of ground engaging wheels with one wheel of each pair on each side of the vehicle. At least one pair of wheels is power driven. The operator&#39;s position is offset to one side of the pivotal mount for the boom. The operator&#39;s position may include a seat which can be moved between a first position on a longitudinal center line of the vehicle and a second position to one side of the vehicle center line.

DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

This invention relates to a load handling vehicle, hereinafter referredto as being of the kind specified, comprising a structure having a loadhandling means at a front end of the vehicle, power means to raise saidload handling means, ground engageable propulsion means comprising apair of front ground engageable wheels disposed one at each side of thevehicle and a pair of rear ground engageable wheels disposed one at eachside of the vehicle, an operator's position, an engine to provide powerfor said propulsion means to drive at least one of said pairs of wheelsand for said power means to raise the load handing means, said enginebeing disposed towards the front pair of wheels.

The invention is particularly concerned with a vehicle of the kindspecified which is used for load handling in construction and likeactivities comprising an operator's position disposed in a cab, with theload handling means located forwardly of the cab, and conventionallycomprising a bucket or similar, and a further load handling meanscomprising a backhoe loader disposed rearwardly of the cab.

Conventionally such vehicles have a large enclosure disposed forwardlyof the operator's cab and centrally of the vehicle, in which is locatedsaid engine and, forwardly thereof, a cooling means comprising a coolingfan and a radiator for coolant liquid of the engine through which air isdrawn by the fan. The forward load handling means is mounted on a pairof generally parallel arms pivotally attached forwardly of the cab andextending one either side of the enclosure. Such a configuration suffersfrom obstructed lines of sight when the operator is attempting tooperate the forward load handling means. In particular, the operatorcannot see the load handling means when it is in its lowered position.

An aim of the invention is to provide a new or improved load handlingvehicle.

According to a first aspect of the invention, we provide a load handlingvehicle of the kind specified wherein the load carrying means is mountedon a boom pivotally mounted to the structure forwardly of the operator'sposition.

Said boom may be disposed on the longitudinal center line of saidvehicle.

Alternatively, said boom may be offset from the longitudinal center lineof said vehicle.

The center line of the boom may be offset by a distance in the range 0mm to 275 mm from the longitudinal center line of the vehicle.

The vehicle may comprise cooling means which may be disposed at a sidepart of the vehicle.

The cooling means may be disposed at a side part of the vehicle betweena front wheel and a rear wheel of the vehicle.

The cooling means may comprise a fan operable to draw air through a heatexchange means.

The heat exchange means may comprise one or more of an engine watercoolant radiator, a hydraulic oil cooler, a transmission oil cooler andan air conditioning condenser.

The transmission oil cooler may comprise a torque converter oil cooler.

The cooling fan may be driven by a hydraulic motor.

The cooling means may comprise an enclosure having an upper wall, saidupper wall comprising an inlet through which air is drawn by said fan.

The cooling means may comprise an enclosure having a side wall, saidside wall having an aperture through which air is expelled from theinterior of said enclosure by said fan.

The boom may comprise a mechanical self-levelling arm.

The boom may comprise a box section component.

The boom may comprise a telescopic boom.

The operator's position may comprise an operator's seat movable betweena first position wherein the seat is located on the longitudinal centerline of the vehicle and a second position wherein the seat is offsetfrom the center line of the vehicle.

Said seat may pivotable about a vertical axis, said vertical axis beingdisposed away from the center line of said vehicle.

When the seat is in a first position, said seat may face generallyrearwardly of the vehicle to permit the operator to operate a loadhandling means disposed rearwardly of the operator's position.

When the seat is in its second position, the seat may face generallyforwardly of the vehicle to permit the operator to operate a loadhandling means disposed forwardly of the position.

When said boom is offset from the longitudinal center-line of thevehicle and when said seat is in its second position, said seat may beoffset from the longitudinal center line of the vehicle on an oppositeside of the center line to the boom.

The engine means may be disposed forwardly of the operator's position.

The engine may be disposed such that a vertical plane containing thelongitudinal center line of the vehicle intersects the engine.

The engine may drive a transmission and the engine may be disposedwholly or partly below the operator's position.

The transmission may drive a hydraulic pump to provide fluid pressure.

The pump may be disposed below the operator's position.

A driver's line of sight may extend downwardly at an angle to thehorizontal in the range 29° to 35° and preferably about 32° over a frontpart of the vehicle.

The uppermost part of the boom assembly may be disposed below ahorizontal plane including the driver's eye level, preferably such thatthe driver can see downwardly over the uppermost part of the boomassembly at an angle to the horizontal in the range of 10° to 17° andpreferably about 14°.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference tothe accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view from the front and to the side of a vehicleaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view from another direction of the vehicle ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a chassis of the vehicle of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic plan view of a vehicle similar to the vehicleof FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a partly cut away perspective view of part of a chassis of thevehicle of FIG. 4 showing an engine and transmission;

FIG. 6 is a partly cut away side view of the vehicle of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a front view of part of a chassis of a vehicle of analternative configuration,

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic plan view of a vehicle of the alternativeconfiguration of FIG. 7,

FIG. 9 is a perspective view from the front and to the side of a furthervehicle according to the present invention,

FIG. 10 is a side view of the vehicle of FIG. 9,

FIG. 11 is a further side view of the vehicle of FIG. 9, and

FIG. 12 is a view of part of the vehicle of FIG. 9 on a larger scale.

The vehicles shown in FIGS. 4 to 8 and 9 to 11 differ in minorcomponents from that shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, but in respects relevant tothe present invention are similar to that of FIGS. 1 to 3 and, mutatismutandis, features of any vehicle as described herein may be provided onanother vehicle as described herein.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, a vehicle of the kind specified is shownat 10, comprising a forward region 11 and a rearward region 12. Disposedin the forward region 11 are a pair of front ground engageable wheels 13which are spaced apart widthwise of the vehicle so as to be disposed oneon either side 14, 15 of the vehicle. Similarly, in the rearward region12 of the vehicle are provided a pair of rear ground engageable wheels16 disposed widthwise of the vehicle so as to be disposed one at eachside 14, 15 of the vehicle. Disposed generally towards the rear of thevehicle is an operator's position comprising an operator's cab 17 havingan operator's seat 18. As shown in the plan view of FIG. 4, theoperator's seat may be movable between two positions, a first positionshown in dashed outline wherein the operator's seat faces in a rearwarddirection and a second position shown in solid outline where theoperator's seat faces in a forward direction. A forward control position57 is disposed forwardly of the cab, comprising means to drive thevehicle and operate the boom assembly 20, and a rearward controlposition 58 is disposed rearwardly of the cab to operate a rear loadhandling means (not shown). A boom assembly, comprising a boom 20 ofconventional box section, is pivotally mounted on pivot means 21disposed forwardly of the operator's cab 17. In the present example, theboom has a width of 250 mm.

As best seen in FIG. 3, the vehicle is provided with a chassis generallyindicated at 22 comprising a pair of generally parallel longitudinallyextending members 23. Said longitudinally extending members 23 areinterconnected towards their rear end by a rear transverse connectionmember 24, in this example in the form of a box beam, and towards theirforward ends by a forward transverse connection member 25. Thelongitudinally extending members 23 and the transverse connectionmembers 24, 25 define a volume V therebetween which may wholly or partlyreceive an engine and transmission in a generally fore-and-aftconfiguration mounted in conventional manner.

Disposed attached to the rear ends of the longitudinally extendingmembers 23 are a pair of generally parallel transversely extending guidemeans 26 a, 26 b spaced from one another in a vertical direction. Theends of the guide means 26 a, 26 b are connected by posts 27 to receivestabilising legs of conventional type. The guide means 26 a, 26 b mayreceive suitable load handling means mounted therein, such as a backhoe.Alternatively, a backhoe may be provided fixed rigidly relative to thevehicle, conventionally referred to as a “center mount”.

Provided on the longitudinally extending members 23 at a positiontowards the, forward end thereof are a pair of upwardly extending,generally parallel members 28 between which the pivot means 21 extendsto provide a mount for the boom 20. The operator's cab 17 is thuslocated on the longitudinally extending members 23 above the volume Vand rearwardly of the upwardly extending members 28.

A modification is shown in FIGS. 4 to 6. In these Figures a vehicle isshown in which a pivot means 21′ comprises a generally cylindricalsupport member 21′a extending transversely of the vehicle. Disposed onthe member 21′a are a pair of upwardly extending spaced ears 21′b and apair of laterally spaced forwardly extending ears 21′c. The upwardlyextending ears 21′a are provided with circular apertures, which receivegenerally cylindrical pivot elements 20′a extending transverselyoutwardly of the boom assembly 20. The boom assembly 20 furthercomprises generally triangular bracing elements 20′b attached to theboom assembly 20 and the pivot elements 20′a. When the fluid operatedrams 29 are actuated, the boom assembly 20 pivots about the pivotelements 20′a. As seen in FIG. 5, the engine and transmission aredisposed towards the front wheels in a forward part of the volume V,such that the major part of the engine is disposed below the boomassembly 20, while, as best seen in FIG. 6, the transmission is locatedbeneath a forward part of the operator's cab 17.

Lift means comprising fluid operated rams 29 are pivotally attached byfirst pivot means 30 a to the boom 20, and by second pivot means 30 b toa lower part of the upwardly extending members 28. The boom 20 isprovided with a material handling implement comprising, in the presentexample, a bucket 31 which is pivotally mounted on the boom 20 forpivotal movement relative thereto about a generally horizontal axis,such that the boom extends along a central axis of the bucket. Anysuitable material handling implement may be provided as desired.Generally the bucket is generally disposed transversely of the vehicleand if a non-central position of the boom 20 is provided then the boomis correspondingly off set on the bucket.

A fluid pressure operated crowd ram means 32 is provided operable topivot the bucket about said generally horizontal axis. The crowd rammeans 32 is connected to the bucket 31 by way of a conventional selflevelling system. A ram 32 a of the crowd ram means 32 is connected by apin 33 to a generally horizontal pair of bucket links 34 at one endthereof and a pair of generally parallel arm links 35 disposed outwardlyof the bucket links 34. The bucket links 34 are pivotally connected attheir other end to the bucket 31, whilst the boom links 35 extendalongside opposite faces of the boom 20 and are pivotably attachedthereto by boom link connection means 36.

In the alternative configuration of FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, the bucket links34 of the self-levelling system are replaced with a link assembly 34′ ofgenerally Y-shaped configuration. One end 34′a of the assembly 34′ isattached to the crowd ram means 32 by a pin 33 and to a pair of curvedboom links 35′ generally equivalent to the boom links 35 of FIGS. 1 to3. The pair of ends 34′b of the assembly 34′ are pivotally attached to amaterial handling implement carrier 31′ which may receive a fork or abucket or any other material handling implement as desired. In bothconfigurations a pair of transverse links 37 are disposed generallyparallel to one another one either side of the boom and pivotallyconnected thereto by transverse link connection means 38 rearwardly ofthe first pivot means 30 a. A cylinder 32 b of the crowd ram means 32 ispivotally connected to an upper part of the transverse links 37. A pairof lower guide links 39 are disposed one either side of the boom andconnected between first guide link pivot means 39 a to the upwardlyextending members 28, and at the other end by second guide linkconnection means 39 b to a downwardly extending part of the transverselinks 37. In the variant shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the forwardly extendingears 21′c receive the first guide link pivot means 39 a.

Hydraulic fluid for use in the vehicle, for example, in the rams andhydraulic motor hereinbefore described is provided from a hydraulicreservoir R and is pressurised by a hydraulic pump P disposed beneaththe operator's seat 18 or, where the operator's seat is offset, as shownin FIG. 8 on the longitudinal axis of the machine but at a level belowthe level of the seat 18. In either case the hydraulic pump P is drivenby the engine E. If desired the hydraulic reservoir may be disposed inanother suitable position on the vehicle.

Disposed at one side 14 of the vehicle is a cooling means 40 comprisingan enclosure 41 located between the forward wheel 13 and rear wheel 16on the side 14 of the vehicle 10. Disposed within the enclosure 41 is,as best seen in FIG. 4, a fan 42 rotated by a hydraulic motor 42 a todraw air through a heat exchange means 43. The axis of rotation of thefan 42 is inclined to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle at an angleof 90° but which may lie at any other angle as desired, for example asshown in FIG. 8. In each case the heat exchange means 43 is disposedtransversely to the axis of rotation of the fan 42. The heat exchangemeans in the present example comprises an engine water coolant radiator43 a, a hydraulic oil cooler 43 b, a transmission cooler comprising atorque converter oil cooler 43 c. It may also comprise other componentssuch as an air conditioning condenser. If desired one or more of theabove mentioned components may be omitted, or alternatively disposed infront of the engine E but so as to not or not significantly affect theheight of the cowling 56.

The enclosure 41 is provided with an upper wall 44 in which a firstaperture 45 provided with a grille is located. The enclosure 41 furthercomprises a side wall 46 in which a second aperture 47 provided with agrille is located. The apertures 45, 47 are disposed relative to the fan42 such that air is drawn in through the first aperture 45, urgedthrough the heat exchange means 43 and expelled through the secondaperture 47. Such a configuration is particularly advantageous in that,for example, any spray of water from the wheels will not be drawn intothe first aperture 45. Alternatively, air may be drawn in through thesecond aperture 47, urged through the heat exchange means 43 andexpelled through the first aperture 45 if desired.

On the opposite side 15 of the vehicle 10, a fuel tank 48 and reservoirR for hydraulic fluid is disposed between the front wheel 13 and rearwheel 16. The tank 48 is provided with steps 48 a for an operatorattached to the outside thereof. The operator's cab 17 is disposedcentrally of the vehicle 10 and at least partly above the fuel tank 48.The operator's cab 17 is provided with a door for the operator on thesame side 15 of the vehicle as the fuel tank 48, and preferably no dooris provided on the same side 14 of the vehicle 10 as the cooling means40. The cooling means 40 and fuel tank 48 are attached to an outer faceof the respective longitudinally extending member 23.

A forward cowling 56, is provided over the forward part of the chassisbeneath the boom 20. Since the heat exchange means 43 are disposed atthe side 14 of the vehicle 10, the forward cowling 56 is not restrictedby a requirement to accommodate the cooling means. The cowling 56 isthus shaped to curve downwardly in a forward direction so as to permitthe boom 20 to be lowered to a lowermost desired position as seen inFIG. 6 and to provide a substantially improved line of sight forwardlyand downwardly of the vehicle for an operator in the operator's cab 17.

As best shown in FIG. 6 the driver's line of sight LOS is thus definedby the height of the driver's eye level, the height of that part of thecowling 56 which is tangential to the driver's line of sight, and thehorizontal distance between the driver's eye position EP and thetangential point of the cowling 56. The driver's line of sighttangential to the cowling 56 thus makes an angle with the horizontalgiven by arctan $\left( \frac{{H1} - {H2}}{D1} \right),$where H1 is the height of the driver's eye position above the ground, H2is the height of the tangential point of the cowling 56 above the groundand D1 is the horizontal distance between vertical plane perpendicularto the longitudinal axis of the vehicle containing the driver's eyeposition and the tangential point of the cowling. Assuming the materialhandling vehicle is on perfectly level ground, the nearest point on theground the driver can see over the engine cowling 56 is a distance D2=$\left( \frac{{D1} \cdot {H1}}{{H1} - {H2}} \right)$forwardly of the vertical plane comprising the driver's eye position. Inthe present example, H1 is about 2.49 m, H2 is about 1.33 m and D1 isabout 1.86 m, but these dimensions may vary, for example, H1 may vary by±10 cm from 2.49 m. The driver can therefore see downwardly over thecowling 56 at an angle in the range 29° to 35° to the horizontal in thepresent example about 32°, and can see the ground at a point D2 is about3.4 m ahead of his eye position. In conventional machines, with theengine disposed in a higher and more forward direction and with thecooling means disposed forwardly of the engine, the view forward of thedriver is clearly substantially more obstructed. The view afforded tothe driver is also only limited by a relatively narrow boom, 250 mm inthis instance relative to the width of the engine cowling, 800 mm inthis example, affording the driver a substantially improved forward anddownward view as the driver can see the implement to either side of theboom.

This improved field of view thus allows the driver to see a significantpart of the bucket 31 or other material handling implement 31′, and aswill be apparent from FIG. 6 in which the line of sight LOS is marked.

When the boom is in its lowered position, for example for travelling onthe road, it is further desirable that the driver be able to see as farahead as possible over the top of the boom assembly 20. In the presentexample, the height of the highest part of the boom assembly is belowthe horizontal plane comprising the driver's eye position. The drivercan thus see downwardly at an angle defined by arctan$\left( \frac{{H1} - {H3}}{D3} \right),$where H1 is the vertical height of the driver's eye position above theground, H3 is the height of the highest part of the boom assembly abovethe ground level and D3 is the horizontal distance between the verticalplane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle comprisingthe driver's eye position and the highest part of the boom assembly 20and again, assuming the vehicle is disposed on level ground. The nearestpoint on the ground which can be seen over the highest point of the boomassembly 20 is a distance D4 given by$\left( \frac{{D3} \cdot {H1}}{{H1} - {H3}} \right).$In the present example, H3 is about 2.04 m and D3 is about 1.85 m. Thedriver can therefore see the ground over the top of the lowered boomassembly 20 at a point about 10.2 m ahead of the vertical planecomprising the driver's eye position and can see downwardly at an anglein the range 10° to 17° to the horizontal, in the present in the presentexample about 14°.

In the present example, the driver's eye position EP is at a height ofabout 0.67 m above a datum level, in the present example a seat indexpoint defined in accordance with ISO standard 5253. In the presentexample, the seat index point is about 1.77 m above ground level whenthe seat is in the lowermost position. The height of the seat 18 isvariable in the present example over a range of about 6.5 cm. In theexample calculations, EP is about 2.49 m above ground level. Thedriver's eye position is selected such that with variation in driverheight and seat level, it is expected that a majority of drivers willhave an eye position within the range of ±10 cm of EP.

Disposed at the rear of the vehicle are a pair of stabilising legs 49 ofconventional nature slidably received in the posts 27.

In the vehicles of FIGS. 1 to 6, the boom 20 is provided disposed alongthe longitudinal center line of the vehicle. However, it may bedesirable to locate the boom 20 in a position offset from thelongitudinal center line X of the vehicle 10. In an alternativeconfiguration shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the boom 20 is located between theupwardly extending members 28 as discussed above, and is connected tolift means comprising a pair of fluid operated rams 29 as before. Theboom 20 is pivotally mounted on a first pivot pin 50 extending betweenthe upwardly extending members 28. A second transverse pivot pin 51extends between an end part of each fluid operated ram 29 and the boom20. The pivot pins 50, 51 are received in bosses 52 a, 52 b, 53 a, 53 bof unequal length disposed one either side of the boom 20 such that theboom 20 is offset from the center line of the vehicle in a leftwarddirection as seen in FIG. 7. The crowd ram means 32 and the selflevelling means are mounted on the boom as described herein withreference to the vehicles of FIGS. 1 to 6. The only alteration requiredto provide a self levelling means on an offset boom is that the guidelinks 39 as shown in FIG. 3 are connected to the upwardly extendingmembers 28 by a guide link pivot pin 54 extending between the upwardlyextending members 28. First and second spacers 55 a, 55 b respectivelyof equal lengths are disposed on the pivot pin 54 to maintain the guidelinks 39 in an offset position.

Such an offset position of the boom results in an improved line of sightfor an operator to observe the operation of the forward load handlingmeans, since the operator can view the forward load handling means froma position away from the longitudinal axis of the boom and at an anglethereto and hence has a view of the forward load handling meanssubstantially unobstructed by the boom.

The downward angle of vision of the drive is still constrained by theheight of the point of the cowling 56 which is tangential to thedriver's line and vision, but the offset location of the boom permitswith improved forward view of the load handling mean along thelongitudinal axis of the vehicle.

Further, the operator's position may be offset from the center line X.As best seen in FIG. 8, the operator's seat 18 is movable between twopositions, a first position shown in dashed outline wherein theoperator's seat 18 faces in a generally rearwards direction, and asecond position shown in solid outline wherein the operator's seat 18faces in a generally forward direction. A forward control means 57′ isdisposed offset from center line of the vehicle such that it is disposedgenerally forwardly of the operator's seat 18 when the operator's seat18 is in its second position. Advantageously, as seen in FIG. 8, theoperator's seat 18 when in its second position is offset from the centerline X of the vehicle on the opposite side thereof to the boom 20.

Where a rear load handling means is provided, for example a side shiftbackhoe provided on the guide means 26 a, 26 b, a rearward control means58′ to control said rear load handling means is preferably provided suchthat the rearward control means 58′ is provided generally rearwardly ofthe vehicle from the operator's seat 18 when in its first position. Topermit the operator's seat 18 to move between a first position disposedgenerally on the center line X of the vehicle and a second positionoffset from the center line X of the vehicle, operators seat 18 ispivotable about a vertically extending axis 59 at a point halfwaybetween the center line X of the vehicle and a center line Y of theoperator's seat 19. When the operator's seat 19 is pivoted about axis 59to move from its second position to its first position, the offset ofthe axis 59 from the center line X of the vehicle and the offset of thecenter line Y of the seat 18 from the axis 59 cancel such that when theoperator's seat 18 is in its first position, the center line Y of theseat 18 is located over the center line X of the vehicle.

Although the boom 20 is shown as a conventional box section one pieceboom, it will be apparent that the boom may comprise, for example, atelescopic boom in which box section components are telescopicallydisposed as described herein with reference to FIGS. 9 to 11, or anyother suitable boom as appropriate. It will be apparent that the boom 20may be located on the center line X of the vehicle, or offset therefromas desired.

It will apparent that the operator's seat 18 may be disposed in a fixedposition or may be pivotable between two or more alternative positions,and is pivotally connected to the implement carrying means 64 by secondlink pivot 69 e that said fixed position or one or more of saidalternative positions may be located on the center line of the vehicleor offset therefrom as desired. It will further be apparent that coolingmeans 40 as shown located on a side of the vehicle 10 may be provided onany desired material handling vehicle, and not simply a vehicle with aforwardly extending boom located forwardly of the operator's cab 17. Ifdesired the engine may be disposed in another desired position such asrearwardly of the operator's position.

Referring to FIGS. 9 to 12, as discussed hereinbefore a vehicleaccording to the present invention may be provided with a telescopicboom as appropriate. In FIGS. 9 to 12, a vehicle 10″ embodying thepresent invention is shown provided with a telescopic boom 60. Thevehicle 10″ is substantially the same as the vehicle of FIGS. 1-6 withthe exception of the provision of the boom 60. The boom 60 comprises arearward portion 61 and a forward portion 62 telescopically receivedwithin the rearward portion 61 in conventional manner. An extension ram(not shown) is provided between the boom portions 61 and 62 within therearward portion 61 and is operable to move the forward portion 62telescopically relative to the rearward portion 61 in conventionalmanner. The forward portion 62 comprises a transversely extendingportion 63 at an end thereof, which depends downwardly from the forwardboom part 62 when the boom 60 is in its lowered position as shown inFIG. 10. Provided on the transversely extending portion 63 is animplement carrying means 64 operable to receive a desired load handlingimplement as appropriate, in the present example a bucket 65. Theimplement carrying means 64 is pivotally connected to a transverselyextending part pivot means 66 for pivotable crowding movement about agenerally horizontal axis. A crowd ram means generally indicated at 67is mounted within the transversely extending part 63 connected between aboom pivotal connection 68 and an implement pivotal connection 69. Theimplement pivotal connection 69 is provided on a first link part 69 aprovided with a limb part 69 b pivotally connected to the transverselyextending portion at pivot means 63 a. The first link part 69 a ispivotally connected to a second link part 69 c by a first link pivot 69d, and the second link part 69 c is pivotally connected to the implementcarrying means 64 by a second link pivot 69 e.

The crowd ram means 67 is operable by supply of fluid under pressurethereto in conventional manner to act on the first link part 69 a andsecond link part 69 c to cause pivotal movement of the implementcarrying means 64.

The boom 60 is pivotally mounted on the vehicle 10″ by a pivot means 70.The pivot means 70 extends between a pair of upwardly extendinggenerally parallel members 28″ substantially identical to the upwardlyextending generally parallel members 28 shown in FIG. 3. To raise andlower the boom 60, a lift ram means 72 is provided disposed beneath therearward portion 61 connected between a boom lift pivotal connection 73provided on the boom 70 and a pivotal lift connection 74 provided fixedrelative to the chassis, in the present example provided in a pair offorwardly extending ears 75 attached to the upwardly extending generallyparallel members 28″. The lift ram means 72 is operable to raise theboom to its raised position as shown in dashed outline in FIG. 10 by asupply of fluid under pressure thereto in conventional manner.

A pair of compensation rams 76 are provided, one located either side ofthe boom 60. The compensation rams 76 are each provided connectedbetween a forwardly extending ear 77 of the respective verticallyextending member 28″ and a downwardly extending ear 78 connected to therearward portion 61 of the boom 60. The compensation rams 76 are influid flow communication with the crowd ram means 67 in conventionalmanner, such that the bucket 65 or other load handling implement carriedby the boom 60 maintains its orientation relative to the ground as theboom 60 is raised or lowered.

As seen in FIGS. 9 to 11 the vehicle 10″ is provided with a rear backhoeassembly 80 of conventional type.

With reference to the arrangement of the engine E, cooling means 40 andfuel tank 48, it will be apparent that the disposition of these elementsis the same as or substantially the same as described hereinbefore withreference to the earlier embodiments. This disposition of the engine E,cooling means 40 and fuel tank 48 thus permits the boom 60 to be locatedforwardly of the operator's cab 17, in the present example along thelongitudinal axis of the vehicle. Due to the location of the lift ram 72below the rearward boom part 61, it is necessary that the pivot 70 isdisposed at a somewhat higher vertical position than the pivots 21, 21′of FIGS. 1-3 and 4-6. Nevertheless, it will be apparent that thisconfiguration provides the same advantages as the embodiments describedhereinbefore, in that the driver's view of the bucket 65 and forwardlyof the vehicle is substantially unobstructed by the boom 60.

As shown in FIG. 9, the vehicle 10″ is provided at a forward partthereof with a scavenger air inlet 81 to provide some air flow over theengine E. The scavenger air inlet 81 is entirely passive, in that thereis no fan or radiator mechanism provided but in some circumstances asmall fan may be provided to cause air to flow over a turbo charger ofthe engine. The engine cooling functions are performed by the coolingmeans 40 as described hereinbefore.

In the present specification “comprise” means “includes or consists of”and “comprising” means “including or consisting of”.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the followingclaims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific formsor in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or amethod or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate,may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised forrealising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

1. A load handling vehicle comprising a structure having a load handlingmeans at a front end of the vehicle, power means to raise said loadhandling means, ground engagable propulsion means comprising a pair offront ground engageable wheels disposed one at each side of the vehicleand a pair of rear ground engageable wheels disposed one at each side ofthe vehicle, an operator's position, an engine to provide power for saidpropulsion means to drive at least one of said pairs of wheels and forsaid power means to raise the load handling means, said engine beingdisposed towards the front pair of wheels, wherein the load handlingmeans comprises a boom pivotally mounted to the structure forwardly ofthe operator's position, wherein said boom has a center line and thecenter line of the boom is offset from the longitudinal center line ofsaid vehicle.
 2. A vehicle according to claim 1, the engine beingdisposed such that a vertical plane containing the longitudinal centerline of the vehicle intersects the engine, and wherein the engine drivesa transmission, the transmission being disposed wholly or partly beneaththe operator's position.
 3. A vehicle according to claim 1 whereincooling means are disposed at one side of the vehicle.
 4. A vehicleaccording to claim 3 wherein the cooling means is disposed at a sidepart of the vehicle between the front wheel and the rear wheel of thatside of the vehicle.
 5. A vehicle according to claim 3 wherein thecooling means comprises a fan operable to draw air through a heatexchange means.
 6. A vehicle according to claim 3 wherein the heatexchange means comprises one or more of an engine water coolantradiator, a hydraulic oil cooler, a transmission oil cooler and an airconditioning condenser.
 7. A vehicle according to claim 5 wherein thecooling fan is driven by a hydraulic motor.
 8. A vehicle according toclaim 5 wherein said cooling means comprises an enclosure having anupper wall, said upper wall comprising an inlet through which air isdrawn by said fan.
 9. A vehicle according to claim 5 wherein saidcooling means comprises an enclosure having a side wall, said side wallhaving an aperture through which air is expelled from the interior ofsaid enclosure by said fan.
 10. A vehicle according to claim 1 whereinthe boom comprises a mechanical self-leveling system.
 11. A vehicleaccording to claim 1 wherein the boom comprises a telescopic boom.
 12. Avehicle according to claim 1 wherein the operator's position comprisesan operator's seat pivotable about a vertical axis between a firstposition wherein the seat is located on the longitudinal center line ofthe vehicle and a second position wherein the seat is offset from thecenter line of the vehicle.
 13. A vehicle according to claim 12 whereinsaid vertical axis being disposed away from the center line of saidvehicle.
 14. A vehicle according to claim 12 wherein, when the seat isin a first position, said seat faces a rearward control means to permitthe operator to operate a load handling means disposed rearwardly of theoperator's position.
 15. A vehicle according to claim 12 wherein, whenthe seat is in its second position, the seat faces a forward controlmeans to permit the operator to operate a load handling means disposedforwardly of the operator's position.
 16. A vehicle according to claim15 wherein the boom is offset from the longitudinal center line of saidvehicle where said seat, when in its second position, is offset from thelongitudinal center line of the vehicle on an opposite side of thecenter line to the boom.
 17. A vehicle according to claim 2 wherein thetransmission drives a hydraulic pump to provide fluid pressure.
 18. Avehicle according to claim 17 wherein the pump is disposed below theoperator's position.
 19. A vehicle according to claim 1 wherein thevehicle comprises a cowling extending over a front part of the vehicle,the vehicle comprising a seat index point defining a driver's eyeposition at a point 0.67 m above the seat index point, wherein thecowling is disposed such that a driver's line of sight extendingdownwardly from the driver's eye position over the cowling to the grounddefines an angle to the horizontal in the range 29° to 35° andpreferably about 32°.
 20. A vehicle according to claim 1 wherein thevehicle comprises a seat index point defining a driver's eye position ata point 0.67 m above the seat index point, and wherein an uppermost partof the boom assembly is disposed below a horizontal plane including thedriver's eye position.
 21. A vehicle according to claim 20 wherein theuppermost part of the boom axially is disposed below the horizontalplane including the driver's eye position such that a driver's line ofsight extending from the driver's eye position downwardly over theuppermost part of the boom assembly to the ground defines at an angle inthe range 10° to 17° to the horizontal and preferably about 14°.
 22. Avehicle according to claim 1 wherein the center line of the boom isoffset by a distance no more than 275 mm from the longitudinal centerline of the vehicle.
 23. A load handling vehicle comprising a structurehaving a load handling means at a front end of the vehicle, power meansto raise said load handling means, ground engagable propulsion meanscomprising a pair of front ground engageable wheels disposed one at eachside of the vehicle and a pair of rear ground engageable wheels disposedone at each side of the vehicle, an operator's position, an engine toprovide power for said propulsion means to drive at least one of saidpairs of wheels and for said power means to raise the load handlingmeans, said engine being disposed towards the front pair of wheels,wherein the load handling means comprises a boom pivotally mounted tothe structure forwardly of the operator's position, wherein theoperator's position comprises an operator's seat movable between a firstposition wherein the seat is located on the longitudinal center line ofthe vehicle and a second position wherein the seat is offset from thecenter line of the vehicle, said seat being pivotable about a verticalaxis, said vertical axis being disposed away from the center line ofsaid vehicle.
 24. A vehicle according to claim 23 wherein, when the seatis in the first position, said seat faces a rearward control means topermit the operator to operate a load handling means disposed rearwardlyof the operator's position.
 25. A vehicle according to claim 23 wherein,when the seat is in its second position, the seat faces a forwardcontrol means to permit the operator to operate a load handling meansdisposed forwardly of the operator's position.
 26. A vehicle accordingto claim 23 wherein the boom is offset from the longitudinal center lineof said vehicle and wherein said seat, when in its second position, isoffset from the longitudinal center line of the vehicle on an oppositeside of the center line to the boom.